Joe Boggs – 10/22/04

This page was last updated on October 22, 2004.

Only one right answer; Joe Boggs; Beaver County Times; October 22, 2004.

This letter combines two recent tactics, claim there’s no difference between President Bush and John Kerry with respect to abortion and claim you are a Republican who can’t vote for President Bush. There’s nothing like desperation.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“In the third debate, President George Bush was asked directly, if he were appointing a Supreme Court Justice, given the opportunity to overturn Roe vs. Wade (abortion), what would he do?

“His unbelievable answer was there would be no litmus test - litmus test being the president’s right and duty to question a prospective judge on his position on this issue.

“He wouldn’t even ask their position on allowing the continued murder of the unborn? Absolutely not the right answer for a supposedly pro-life anti-abortion candidate.

“There was only one right answer to this question. I will appoint no judge that does not totally support the sanctity of life.”

[RWC] It would be irresponsible to appoint a judge based on how he/she would vote on a single issue. Indeed, historically it has been considered off limits to ask nominated judges how they would vote on specific issues. That changed with Democrats when it comes to abortion. That said, justices who believe in strict interpretation of the Constitution agree there is no “abortion right” in the Constitution.

Mr. Boggs wants us to forget Senate Democrats have been filibustering several prominent nominations by President Bush because these men and women didn’t pass the Democrat pro-abortion litmus test.

“It’s absolutely clear there will be sadly no difference between these candidates for the next four years on this issue.

“If Bush is willing to be this totally dishonest in the eyes of God on this most important issue after having said thousands of times that he is pro-life, it must be very easy to be dishonest on most other issues - a true lack of family values, integrity and honesty.”

[RWC] Mr. Boggs incorrectly claims President Bush lied about being pro-life, then uses that to claim President Bush lacks “family values, integrity and honesty.” Perhaps Mr. Boggs could provide us with some examples that haven’t already been disproved.

“Think and remember, talk is cheap; actions speak louder than words.”

[RWC] Actions do speak louder than words. See the Todorich letter for my response.

“After 20 years of broken promises, and especially the last four with no results, one final thought comes to me: no way these words should come from someone who thinks he was chosen by God. Even when banning partial-birth abortion, Bush didn’t allow for the life of the mother.”

[RWC] 20 years of broken promises by whom?

The partial-birth abortion ban doesn’t allow for the life of the mother because expert testimony before Congress during the bill’s hearings indicated partial-birth abortion was never medically necessary. Therefore, allowing for the life of the mother was merely an attempt by the pro-abortion crowd to insert a loophole big enough to drive a truck through.

“We must not allow our vote to be part of this shameless use of good people.

“I was Republican, but have decided my family and most middle-class families will be better served and protected by someone who actually commanded troops in battle and didn’t hide or say he has other priorities.”

[RWC] Let me get this straight. John Kerry held a leadership position (Lt. junior grade) commanding a five-man Swift boat crew for four months 35 years ago and that qualifies him? Does a leader return to civilian life and claim his fellow servicemen committed war crimes as standard operating procedure?

“That man is John Kerry.”